To think paddling pools should last longer?

BraOffPjsOn · 2026-06-23T12:11:32+00:00

So with this heatwave, I’ve just bought a paddling pool for the kids. They’re not toddlers anymore and love bouncing around in there. We’ve had a few where we’ve put the slide in and they’ve loved that but they’re probably deflating because of then sliding into the slides. are there any more sturdy ones which can handle this kind of use? Any tips?

Tableforjoan · 25/06/2026 07:50

SowWhatNow · 24/06/2026 21:57

So you have a yesrs old paddling pool full of years old stagnant water? Grim!

ETA i take that back I've just read your update. I'm so relieved for you!

Edited

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Haha yeah I probably should have added it all in the one post. 😅

Clarefromwork · 25/06/2026 07:35

Yes! I felt the same after the last few years of having to try and repair an inflatable pool and having to spend on a new one

i just got the large jml folding pool but it was expensive (hoping it will last longer though so I get my money back!)

it’s very heavy though!

its only 50cm high but we needed one we could put a slide into

Smyths have a similar sized folding pool which is cheaper but I think it’s out of stock everywhere and doesn’t look like they will get more

ClayPotaLot · 25/06/2026 04:35

Also, put a yoga mat or the like under the slide so the slide isn't rubbing directly on the plastic of the pool.

ras105 · 25/06/2026 03:20

I don’t know what happened to them but when I was a kid paddling pools were solid thick plastic one piece items. Maybe try finding a vintage one??

ScotiaLass · 24/06/2026 22:10

I bought a metal frame one after getting sick of replacing inflatable ones and it's almost ten years old and still going strong. Its also much easier to set up because it doesn't need inflated!

AuntieHistamine · 24/06/2026 22:07

It’s out of stock at the moment but we got this fold up one 3 years ago (after several inflatable ones bursting!) and it’s still going strong. Really happy with it as it’s so easy to set up and the kids love it.

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/pools-and-sand-pits/pools/9ft-rectangle-portable-folding-pool/p/253386

SowWhatNow · 24/06/2026 21:57

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:09

From the little plug bit. But we don’t empty ours. It’s been up for years.

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So you have a yesrs old paddling pool full of years old stagnant water? Grim!

ETA i take that back I've just read your update. I'm so relieved for you!

Koalaslippers · 24/06/2026 21:56

@titssweetwe pump ours into our water butts.

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:53

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:50

How big is your pool?
For some reason im on a American facebook group for overgound pools im absolutley fascinsted by some of them
Some have Decks etc
They slso have proper summers and large gardens too though!

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We have a 16ft intex pool but yeah Im on those groups plus the uk ones.

Ours is not set up fancy we are waiting for this one to die and then we are digging out to sink our next one I want a rectangular one next time to swim lengths.

Crystallllll · 24/06/2026 21:52

I bought some foam mats to put under ours as they never lasted. Worked a treat.

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:50

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:43

We run it like a proper pool. Chemicals and filter. We shut it down for winter with a cover and turn off the filter and an over winter chemical pack.

Open in spring with a good dose of shock and put the filter back on. Check chemical balance and bobs your uncle pools ready. We opened up in March this year to nice clear water.

Show quote history

How big is your pool?
For some reason im on a American facebook group for overgound pools im absolutley fascinsted by some of them
Some have Decks etc
They slso have proper summers and large gardens too though!

Bitzee · 24/06/2026 21:48

Dog one here too. No faff blowing it up, properly sturdy, has a valve to drain it and once finished and dried out folds up and takes up no more space really than an inflatable one. I don’t understand how the inflatable ones are even a thing tbh.

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:45

I mean it takes over 24 hours to fill so draining it is always a last measure.

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:43

Littlecreaturesinthegarden · 24/06/2026 21:38

What do you mean you never empty it?

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We run it like a proper pool. Chemicals and filter. We shut it down for winter with a cover and turn off the filter and an over winter chemical pack.

Open in spring with a good dose of shock and put the filter back on. Check chemical balance and bobs your uncle pools ready. We opened up in March this year to nice clear water.

Littlecreaturesinthegarden · 24/06/2026 21:38

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:09

From the little plug bit. But we don’t empty ours. It’s been up for years.

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What do you mean you never empty it?

CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy · 24/06/2026 21:34

My DF recently found my old paddling pool from the early/mid 1980s in his garage. It’s indestructible - a Mothercare classic with hard sides and a soft plastic base. DD11 is too tall for it, but if he had found it several years ago I would have absolutely used it.

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:12

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:09

Does it work ?

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Yes the first year we had ours we pallet wrapped it and got two of those solar heat mats.

Trick with the solar mats is to turn them off over night or have them raised off the ground otherwise they take in the grounds cold and will chill your pool.

This year we haven’t bothered re wrapping as well too lazy 😅 but considering we are hitting 29c water temp I’m glad we haven’t wrapped.

Ineffable23 · 24/06/2026 21:12

I remember when I was little I had one that was still going from my mum's childhood, so it was 25-30 years old. Needless to say I am constantly disappointed by the longevity, or otherwise, if modern paddling pools.

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:09

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:08

Also black pallet wrap. Like a solar heater.

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Does it work ?

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:09

titssweet · 24/06/2026 21:01

Those with the big pools with metal sides, where/ how do you empty them to?

From the little plug bit. But we don’t empty ours. It’s been up for years.

Tableforjoan · 24/06/2026 21:08

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:07

They were ime
We had one during the pandemic my oldest was about 13 at the time and spent hours in it
I think you can buy pool heaters🤔
And i did see something on facebook about putting a load of black bin liners on the surface of the pool water its supposed to absorb heat
But it could be a load of old nonsense

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Also black pallet wrap. Like a solar heater.

x2boys · 24/06/2026 21:07

BraOffPjsOn · 23/06/2026 16:44

Thanks all - thought I might get ripped apart for saying this!

Maybe I’ll get a dog one if big enough and then maybe get the metal structured one when we move - are they just freezing all the time though?

They were ime
We had one during the pandemic my oldest was about 13 at the time and spent hours in it
I think you can buy pool heaters🤔
And i did see something on facebook about putting a load of black bin liners on the surface of the pool water its supposed to absorb heat
But it could be a load of old nonsense

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 24/06/2026 21:07

Our metal framed one got up to 32° today. We use a combination of a solar cover and a heater plugged into a pump but in the UK it's usually quite hard to get over 25° with a standalone plug in heater and not a full purpose built unit. Still better than straight from the tap.

For smaller pools you can get internal heaters, they look like giant fish tank heaters, and you remove them before use.

To empty it, we plug the hose into the outlet and the other end of the hose into our outside drain.

titssweet · 24/06/2026 21:01

Those with the big pools with metal sides, where/ how do you empty them to?

Damnedrose · 24/06/2026 20:31

Another vote for dog paddling pool